SCOTT FARDY WILL captain Leinster in their Heineken Champions Cup pool stage clash with Lyon at the RDS on Sunday [KO 1pm, live on BT Sport].
With Johnny Sexton absent with a knee injury, Fardy will lead out a Leinster team packed with returning Irish internationals.
Jordan Larmour is preferred to Rob Kearney at full-back, and flanked by wingers Dave Kearney and James Lowe. Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw resume their centre partnership, with Luke McGrath partnered by Ross Byrne at half-back.
James Tracy gets the nod at hooker, and is joined in the front row by Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong. Fardy’s second-row partner is Devin Toner, while Max Deegan edges out Caelan Doris for a place in a back-row also featuring Rhys Ruddock and Josh van der Flier.
Last year’s beaten finalists have been imperious in the competition so far, qualifying for the quarter-finals with two games to spare. They are now in a hunt for home advantage in the quarter-finals and potentially the semis too.
If they win both of their remaining pool games with a bonus point – they wrap up their group stage exertions away to Benneton tomorrow week – they will be guaranteed a couple of knock-out games in Dublin.
LEINSTER (vs Lyon)
Jordan Larmour; Dave Kearney; Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw; James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, James Tracy, Tadhg Furlong; Devin Toner, Scott Fardy (captain); Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Max Deegan
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Peter Dooley, Andrew Porter, Ross Molony, Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ciarán Frawley, Rob Kearney